LITTLE LIBRARIES — Kindergarten pupils Camryn Boughan, Easton Clutter and Kynleigh Kalman displayed one of the boxes being added to the new Little Libraries for Big Learners at Buckeye South Elementary in Tiltonsville. The school will be promoting literacy through a series of activities throughout the month of February. The boxes will be available to access inside and outside the building for students and the public. The gently-used literature is free in a shared format. A fundraiser is underway to acquire a book vending machine to reward new prose as prizes. -- Contributed

TILTONSVILLE — Literacy is leading the way at Buckeye South Elementary. And school officials are promoting reading with a variety of activities.

The school has been raising funds to add a book vending machine for pupils in grades preschool through 6th grade. Principal Lori Roberts explained the school is just shy of reaching the $6,300 goal.

She stated sales and public contributions have been filling the till and donations are still being accepted. It is the hope to acquire the machine this year and distribute books for student birthdays to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports rewards.

“Last year when we had our Scholastic Book Fair, we discussed getting a book vending machine,” Roberts said. “We have a community engagement committee that sent letters to organizations and companies in town.”

Those efforts drew $500 donations from the Yorkville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4811 and the Super C gas station in Smithfield, a $100 contribution from McDonald’s in Martins Ferry and $1,000 from MarkWest Energy. In addition, the school has held fundraisers by selling Smillows scented pillows, candygrams and lollipops and conducting penny wars.

“We’re pretty close and need $1,000,” Roberts continued, saying Buckeye Local High School teacher Dan Davis will help create a customized, decorative wrap for the machine. Approximately 220 new books will be supplied through points earned from the book fair.

Meanwhile, activities are set throughout the month to enhance literacy. Among them are a “Stop, Drop and Read” program, where students can take a break in class and read for a brief time, A Mario Bros.-themed literacy night titled “Reading is Super!” is planned for Feb. 29.

Roberts said fifth-graders in the after-school program have ventured down to the Tiltonsville Branch Library for field trips while library officials have supported initiatives by attending open houses.

Another event is the unveiling of the “Little Libraries for Big Learners” project led by kindergarten teacher Jenny Potts to spread a love of reading both inside and outside the school. Potts received more than $600 through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s Best Practice Grant program to acquire small decorative boxes which will contain age-appropriate books in a sharing program.

All 320 students and community members can benefit from the little library, where pupils can access books before and after school, during lunch or recess and at designated title times. They can take, borrow and leave a book for another person to enjoy. Potts plans to unveil the boxes through ribbon-cutting ceremonies throughout the month.

“We are trying to promote literacy in the community,” she said. “We will have boxes on every floor of the building and outside, and you don’t have to buy a new book to love it.”

She has accepted donated books and will be accepting coloring books with lessons on letters and words. Her hope is that all ages will gain a pleasure for prose.

Anyone interested in donating to the book vending machine project can make a check payable to: Buckeye South Elementary PTO, 100 Walden Ave., Tiltonsville, OH 43963.

Those wanting to donate a gently-used book for the Little Libraries project, may bring them to the building.

For information about either project, contact the school at (740) 859-2800.